New Pens Hope to Improve Sow Housing Systems

The springless SF System furthermore prevents problems with corrosive parts as well as expenses with regard to the procurement of spare parts or service activities.

Press Release provided by WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp GmbH

The Lower Saxonian equippers of pig houses, WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp, have developed the new self-catching pen SF3, which is available as of now. The pen does not require mechanical suspension and can be employed as a retrofit system for the predecessor, SF1.

Based on a new lever technology, the ergonomic construction principle of this maintenance and wear-free opening and closing system ensures easy release by humans and by animals.

In sow managements, an advantage of the system can be experienced in everyday use: due to the new free range systems, the opening and adjustment of the desired function is perfectly easy for up to twenty sows.

With this new variety, WEDA are reacting on the demands of modern pig managements with regard to the easy operation of self-catching pens.

With this new variety, WEDA are reacting on the demands of modern pig managements with regard to the easy operation of self-catching pens. This fulfils the requirements set down in the EU Directive 88/2001 as well as in the Ordinance on Animal Welfare.

The SF Series makes handling of the mechanics a lot easier, in particular for persons who are smaller or possess less physical strength. These concrete improvements are modern responses to the agricultural industry, where more and more women are employed. Handling of the self-catching pen is, however, also advantageous for users with more physical strength as it saves energy.

The springless SF System furthermore prevents problems with corrosive parts as well as expenses with regard to the procurement of spare parts or service activities. Below the line, due to a simplified technology, operators gain time which can be sensibly used for animal control and management duties.

Last but not least, the barrier-free locking system is advantageous for animals that can take up their feed in a considerably more relaxed way. After a sow has entered the pen, the mechanisminstalled inside the trough immediately releases the locking device.

For the animals which follow, the entry into the pen is now barred. The sow inside the pen can release the locking mechanism on her own and then leave the pen. In particular lower ranking sows are considerably less exposed to stress during feed uptake due to this practiced animal welfare solution.